FALL RIVER — The city has been selected to participate in a pilot program announced by President Barack Obama’s administration on Thursday called the National Resource Network.

It is designed to serve as a “311 for Cities” that connects communities around the country to network with private and public sector experts to help local governments strategize on increasing economic development.

Mayor Will Flanagan said he has met with a team from the network and has spoken to them by conference call on issues affecting Fall River.

From unemployment, underperforming schools to developing the life sciences industry in the city, Flanagan said the city will have all the resources the White House can offer.

“We will have access to the top minds globally,” Flanagan said.

“The assistance and expertise provided by the National Resource Network will allow cities to maximize and better leverage their existing federal investments, and more strategically plan for their economic future and community development priorities,” said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. “The consortium running the network will harness decades of private and public sector expertise to work alongside mayors and other community leaders to identify new solutions to long-standing challenges.”

Over 50 cities, including Fall River, now have direct access to this “311 for Cities” resource, with the ability to receive expert assistance via the network website, www.nationalresourcenetwork.org.

City officials will be able to log on and get best practices and advice from national experts on community development, economic development, operations, budget and other key issues. The “311 for Cities” service will expand to hundreds of cities nationwide over the next year. Other parts of the website, including a curated and searchable resource library are available to all cities and to the public.

The network is a three-year, $10 million technical assistance program funded by HUD and implemented by a group of leading experts, including Enterprise Community Partners, Public Financial Management, HR&A Advisors, New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the International City/County Management Association. The consortium has committed to raising an additional $10 million to leverage the federal investment. The Annenberg Foundation, Ford Foundation and Surdna Foundation have already committed to partnering with and supporting the network.